Apparatus for operating oil wells



E. o. BENNETT APPjARATUS FOR OPERATING OIL WELLS May v13, 1941.

Filed oct. 17, 1940 Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEAPPARATUS FOR OPERATING OIL WELLS Edwin O. Bennett, Ponca City, Okla.,assignor to IContinental Oil Company, Ponca City, Okla., a corporationof Delaware Application October 17, 1940, Serial No. 361,569

,i1 Claim. (Cl. 103-1) My invention relates to an apparatus foroperating oil wells and more particularly to an apparatus for pumpingtwo separate producing sands through a single well bore.

In many deep oil wells, two or more separate producing zones areencountered. When the wells flow under the pressure of the formations,no particular diiculty is experienced in recovering oil from bothproducing horizons.

As the wells become old, the formation pressures are reduced by the oiland gas taken therefrom and they eventually cease owing. When thisoccurs, oil can be removed from-the wells only by pumping.

Many types of pumping vequipment are available in the oil industry. Themost common type has a rod actuated pump actuated from the sur. face bya string of sucker rods. Other pumping equipment comprises hydraulic,iluid or electrically operated pumps.

One object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for employing twopumps simultaneously in the same well for removing oil from two separateproducing horizons.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the followingdescription.

For purposes of convenience, I will describe my invention with respectto electrically operated pumps, though it is to be understood that anysuitable pumping equipment such as rod pumps, air or gas lifts,hydraulically actuated or fluid turbine actuated pumps, may be used.

. In the accompanying drawing which forms part of the instantspecication and is to be .read in conjunction therewith and in whichlike reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the variousviews;

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an oil well showingapparatus capable of carrying out the method' of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower portionof the well shown in Figurel.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the oil well is cased by a casing I. Apacker 2 is placed above the producing horizon 3. A packer 4 is placedbelow the producing horizon 3 and above the lowest producing horizon 5.Within the casing I is positioned the customary eduction tubing 6,adapted to deliver oil out of the well through pipe 1, A pipe 8communicates with the annular space formed by the casing I and theeduction tubing 6. A motor 9 is adapted to drive a pump I0 and a motorII is adapted to drive a pump I2. A cable I 3V communicating with powermains I5 is adapted to furnish electrical energy for actuating themotors 9 and II. The casing I is provided with perforations I6 adjacentthe producing horizon 3. The pump I0 takes' suction from the casingbetween packers 2 and 4. This portion of the casing is perforatedadjacent the producing horizon 3. Oil from the producing hori.. zon willflow into the sump formed by the casing. Oil from pump I0 is pumpedthrough the eduction tubing 6 and is removed through pipe 1. A plug Ilisolates the lower tubing I8 from the suction of pump IIJ. The lowerportion of the casing I is provided with a plurality of perforations I9,adjacent the lower producing horizon 5. Oil from the oil sand 5 ows intothe casing through the perforations I9 and fills the lower portion-ofthe casing below the packer 4. This I oil is pumped by pump I2 throughthe tubing I8. A branch pipe 29 communicates with tubing I8 passesthrough the upper packer 2 and discharges into the annular space around.the casing I and the tubing 6. Oil from this annular space flows out ofthe well through pipe 8.

It will be seen that oil from the lower producing horizon 5 is pumped bypump II into the annular space above the packer 2 through bypass pipe 20and thence to the surface through this annular space. Oil from the upperproducing horizon 3 is pumped by pump 9 directly through the eductiontubing 6.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects yof my invention. Ihave provided an apparatus for simultaneously producing two oil sands inthe same well bore when the formation pressures are so low that resortmust be had to pumping.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features and Thisis contemplated by andsub-combinations. is within the scope of my claim.Itis further obvious that various changes may be made in `details withinthe scope of my claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.It

tions adjacent said producing horizons, packers Within said casing aboveand below the perforations adjacent said upper producing horizon, a rstpump, said pump taking suction within said casing between said packers,discharge tubing for said rst pump positioned within said casing andcommunicating with the surface, a second pump, said second pump takingsuction Within said casing below said lower packer, discharge tubing forsaid second pump for conducting oil through the space between saidpackers, said second discharge tubing communicating with the annularspace above the upper packer formed by said casing and the dischargetubing of said rst pump, and means for actuating said pumps.

EDWIN O. BENNETT.

